Missoula Sentinel wrestling team cruises past Helena High 63-11 in Western AA dual

HELENA – Missoula Sentinel won the first seven matches and 11 overall, routing the Helena High wrestling team 63-11 on Tuesday night in a Western AA affair. The Spartans benefited from a pair of open weight classes from the Bengals in the win.

Reese Rahn got Sentinel rolling at 170 pounds, earning a quick 13-second pin against the Bengals’ Bryce Rives. The Spartans led 6-0 and never looked back. Dylan Goforth picked up an impressive 15-2 major decision against Jacob Manibusan at 182 pounds, then Tanner Stack added another pin, this one in a blazing 37 seconds, over Helena’s 205-pound Isaac Reinstadler.

After Bryar Newbary won via forfeit in the heavyweight class, Sentinel took a 22-0 lead before picking up three consecutive pins. Bryson Danzinger took Nathaniel Yargo down in 1:51 at 103 pounds, Jackson Bakken won at 113 pounds in 2:51 against David Kemp, and Dakota Thomas’ pin came at the 3:25 mark against Ryan Popp at 120 as the Spartans lead ballooned to 40-0.

Story continues below

Helena High’s first win came from 126-pound Austin Murphy, a 19-2 technical fall against Will Walker that put the Bengals on the board. But Laird Rhodes nabbed a technical fall of his own, 18-3, against Ching Man Chan. The Bengals’ final win of the evening came from Devin Crawford, a pin at 2:23 against Blake Jolma. Sentinel ended the match with wins from Cam Hegel (0:59 pinfall), open forfeit for Dre Davis, and another pin from Luke Joy in 1:19 against Konner McKay.

After spending two years in Tucson, Ariz., Richie Melby returned to Montana as the sports director at KTVH in 2016. After 18 months on the anchor desk, Richie has transitioned into a digital-first role with www.montanasports.com. He is a Hi-line native and has a strong relationship with Montanans and enjoys telling the stories of local athletes, coaches and teams.